Apparatus for treating photographic plates.



A. C. HANSCH.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 10, I914.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

A SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. C. HANSCH.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

4L SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WW Java: 7 4i 4 1 wmwsx m/%fim% Patented. Apr. 13, 1915.

41 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

WWW r,

A. C. HANSCH.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10, 1914.

Patented Apr. 113, 1915.

1 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

aueusr o. HANSGH, or amass? err-Y, new Jansen.

arram'rus FOR 'r'rme snares-mare, rte-inns.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented A t. 13, 1915.

Application filed January 10, 1914, seri l in. 811,288.

To all whom it may concern Be it'known that 1, Answer C. Hanson,

a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Jersey City, in thecounty of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Photographic Plates,ofwhich thefollowing is a speci cation.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating photographic plates. j

.- The invention is specifically applicable for developing and finishingphotographic process plates.

The organization of the invention comprises a tank with a plurality ofcompart- 'ments for liquids, and means for'movmg aplate pack with platesto be treated from the liquid in one compartment to the liquid inanother compartment. In additionto the above and to expedite the actionof the liquids on the plates, I may addmeans to agitate the liquids inthe compartments.

With this invention the various steps in treating a photographicplateare automatically and consecutively accomplished, permitting theoperator using the, invention to employ the intervals of time used intreating the plates, for other useful purposes.

Figural shows a top .plan view of one form of the invention with aortion broken away, Fig. 2 represents an e evation of the invention witha partial section as on the line 2, 2, of Fig.-.1,.F ig. 3 shows a frontelevation of a detail, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2with a detail in axial section, Fig. 5 shows a top plan view of Fig. 4,Fig. 6 is a partial section of Fig. 4 on the line 6, 6, Figs. 7, 8, 9show top' plan views of details, Fig. .10 represents a fragmentary topplan view of a modification of the invention and Fig. 11 represents anelevation of the modification with a partial section as on the line11,11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the in vention is shown to comprisean annular the axial center of the tank is located driven. [shaft 46which is designated as the second shaft, and which near its upper endhas fastened thereto a double sleeve with the outer cylindrical wall 47,inner cylindrical wall 48, that are connected by the top walls 49, 50and the secondary sleeve 51. A bottom wall 52 with the secondary sleeve53 extends from the wall 48." lhe sleeves 51 and 53 are fastened to thesaid shaft 46 by means havin outlets 62 for the conduits 63 that exten vto the vertical legs 41 of the compartinents 40. The wall 61 hasconnected thereto thebottomflwall'64'which'has an axial openmg for theshaft 46. A cover 65 is supported on thewall 61 and has an axial openingfor the shaft 46. An air inlet opening 7 0 is formed in the bottom wall64 for the air lnlet pipe 71'. At the outer lower edge of the tank isindicated a supporting rin 72 which 1s carried on the legs 73. A bedplate 76 has supported thereon a frame, with the legs 77 that haveformed therewith the D shaped top member 7 8. In the -member 78 areformed the bearings 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85.

therewith the journal bearings 100, 101, with removal caps 102. A wormshaft 103 with the worm 10.4 is supported in the bearings 100, 101.Means not shown are provided to turn said worm shaftl03. A driving shaft110 is journaled in the bearings 80 and 90, and it has fastened theretothe worm wheel 111 thatmeshes with the worm 104. Gears 112, 113 of thesame pitch diameter are fastened to the shaft 110, which latter also hasfastened thereto the gear 114 slightly smaller in pitch diameter thansaid gears 112, 113. s A main shaft 118 with three collars 119 fastenedthereto is journaled in the bearings 81' and 91. It carries the spurgears 120, 121, 122,al l of the same pitch diameter and which arerespectively on the same levels as the gears 112, 113 and 114. shaft 124is journaled in the bearings 85 and 95, and which slidably carries thesleeve "125 having the handle 126. A screw 127 threaded engagement withsaid sleeve 125 enables the latter to be clamped in different positionson the shaft 124 by the end of said screw engaging small cavities 128 inthe shaft 124. An

arn' 129 with a slot 180 extends from the sleeve 125. A stud 131 isadjustably clamped to the arm 129, by means of a nut 132 which engages athreaded end 133. The said threaded end 133 extends through the slot130. An 1ntermediate gear 134 is journaled on the stud 131, and by meansof the appurtenances Just described can be made to mesh respectivelywith the gears 112, 120, or the gears 113, 121, or the gears 114, 122.The shaft 118 carries what I will term a triplex spur gear 135 which isfastened to the gear 120 by bolts 135. It has a circun'iferentialdove-talled groove 136, a dove-tailed groove 137 in its top face and agroove similar to the latter in its bottom face. It has the detachableportions 137 in the top and bottom faces and the detachable portion 136in its circumfer- 01100. In this instance the said grooves have fastenedtherein teeth as follows: In the circumferential groove 136 are fastenedthe detachable pairs of teeth 138, 139, 140, 141, 142 and the group ofteeth 143. In the groove 137 are fastened the detachable teeth 144, 145,146, 147, 148 and 149 which are each respectively located at one side ofthe pairs of teeth 138, 139, 140, 141, 142 and the group 143. In thegroove of the bottom face of the wheel 135 are fastened the detachableteeth 150, 151, 152, 153, 154 and 155 which are each respectivelylocated at the other side of said pairs of teeth and group. A triplexspur gear 156 similar in construction to the gear 135 is carried on theshaft 118, and is bolted to the ear 121 by the bolts 156. It has acircum erential groove 157 similar to 136, and a groove 158 similar to137 and a groove in its bottom face similar to the corresponding groovein the Wheel 135. In the circumferential groove 157 are fastened thedetachable pairs of teeth 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168and the group 169. In the groove 158 are fastened the detachable teeth170,171,172,173,174,175,176,177,178,179 which are relatively a little toone side of the pairs of teeth 160 to 168 and the group 169. In thegroove of the bottom face of the gear 156 are detachably fastened theteeth 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188 and 189 which are eachrelatively located on the other side'of the pairs of teeth 160 to 168and the group 169. The gear 156 has portions 158 similar to 137 a and157 similar to 136*. The shaft 118 carries what I term a quadruple gear195 which is fastened to the gear 122 by the bolts 195*. It has thedove-tailed circumferential grooves 196, 197 one over the other, thedove-tailed groove, 198 in its top face and a similar dove-tailed groovein its bottom face. In the top circumferential groove 196 are fastenedthe detachable pairs of teeth 200 to 211 inclusive and the group ofteeth 212. In the groove 198 are fastened the detachable teeth 214 to226 inclusive to one side of the pairs of teeth 200 to 211 and group212. The gear detachable tooth 243 at the other side of the group 241.On the shaft 46 are fastened the gears 250, 251, 252, and 253. The gear250 meshes with the pairs of teeth 138 to 142 and the group of teeth143, on the gear 135. The gear 251 meshes with the pairs of teeth 160 to168 and the group of teeth 169 on the gear 156. upper pairs of teeth 200to 211 and the group of teeth 212 on the gear 195. A second spindle 259is supported in the journal bracket 96 and has fastened thereto a gear260, which meshes With the gear 253, and the group of teeth 241 in thegear 195. A third shaft 264 is journaled in the bearings 83. 93 and hasfastened thereto the gears 265, 266, 267, 268, 269 and 270. A fourthshaft 274 is j ournaled in the bearings 84, 94 and has fastened theretothe gears 275, 276 and 277. The gear 265 meshes with the teeth 144 to149 on the gear 135. The gear 266 meshes with the gear 275 and thenmeshes with the teeth 150 to 155 on the gear 135. The gear 267 mesheswith the teeth 170 to 179 on the gear 156. The gear 268 meshes with thegear 27 6 which latter meshes with the teeth 180 to 189 on the gear 156.The gear 269 meshes with the teeth 214 to 226 and the tooth 242 on thegear 195. The gear 270 meshes with the gear 277 and the latter mesheswith the teeth 228 to 240 and the tooth 243 of the gear 195. On theshaft 46 is fastened a sleeve 282 which supports a double gearcomprising the spur gear 283 and the bevel gear 284. The shaft 264 hasfastened thereto the gear 285 which meshes with the gear 283. The shaft46 has fastened thereto a journal bearing 286 for the hori zontalspindle 288 which carries at one end the gear 289 and at the other endthe bevel pinion 290 that meshes with the bevel gear 284. The shaft 46has an opening for the spindle 288. At the upper end of the shaft 46 isfastened an arm 291 which latter has formed therewith the verticalbearings 292, 293 and the horizontal bearing 294. The bearing 294supports one end of the spindle 288, and in the bearings 292 and 293 isguided a rack shaft 295 with the rack teeth 296 and an offset 297 at itslower end. The teeth 296 mesh with the gear 289. At the lower end of theoffset 297 is fastened a collar 300 of a plate rack. Rear divergingmembers 301, and the forward double di- The gear 252 meshes with the Ithen through the gears 285, 283, 284 and 290 td- Wid 1.

verging members 362 have their fastened to said collar 300. 1: shelves304 are supported on the 301 and-302.

To use the invention solutions as follows: that is to say,developer,'water, cyan'id, water, copper, water, silver, water, iodid,water, mercury and water may be respectively poured in the compartmentsnumbered 20 to 31. The solutions gravitate to the secondary horizontalcompartments 40 through the perforations 42. Air supplied by the pipe 71enters the double sleeve hav ing the walls 47 and 48 and from the latterit enters the conduits 63 through the open ings 59 and 60 during therotations of the double sleeve. One of the conduits 63 receives itscharge of air before it is shut ofi on the one previously charged. Theair forces the solutions through the perforations 42 into thecompartments 20 to 31 and causes the solutions to act on plates carriedby the plate racks.

The worm shaft 103 is turned by power not shown, and which through theworm 104 and worm wheel 111 turns the shaft 110. The sleeve 125 may beconsidered positioned so that rotation is transmitted from gear 113 tothe gear 134 and then to gear 121. The sleeve 125 can be'positioned sothat members rotation is transmitted to either the gear 120 or the gear122. The gear 121 carries with it the triplex spur gear 156. The pairsof teeth 160 to 168 and also the group of teeth 1.69 intermittentlyrotate the gear 251. The said pairsof teeth rotate the gear 251 so thatthe arm 291 is carried in the direction of the arrow B to properpositions over the compartments 20 to 31, that is to say the arm iscarried from over one compartment to the other as required, and thegroup of teeth 169 carry the said arm 291 over a number of saidcompartments, depending upon the number of teeth in the group. Justbefore the 'arm 291 begins to swing oneof the teeth 170 to 179 engagesthe gear 267. The gear 267 turns the shaft 264 and the spindle 288 isrotated. With the spindle 288 the gear 289 is turnedwhich latter raisesthe rack shaft 295, to raise the plate rack attached thereto so that itcan clear the walls of the compartments 20 to 31 while the arm 291swings. At the proper time the teeth 180 to 189 mesh with the gear 276,which turns the gear 268. The latter gear reverses the rotations of theshaft 264 and.

consequently the rack shaft 295 is lowered by means of the gearinginterposed between said rack shaft and the shaft 264. The

allows rotation to be transmitted from the gear 112 tothe gear 120similar intermitturned in a manner similar to that described, dependingupon the distribution of the palrs of teeth 200 to 211 and the group212, the teeth 214. to 226, and the teeth 22s to 240; The group of teeth241 in the second circumferential groove 197 reverse the rotations ofthe shaft 46 and consequently swing the arm in a direction opposite tothe arrow B. Consequently when the gear 114 is performing its functionsthe arm 291 turns in one direction While raising and lowering theplate-rack and also turns in the opposite direction and raises andlowers the plate-rack. I

Tn the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the tankwith the compartments 20 to 31 is rotated instead of remainingstationary and the arm 291 remains stationary instead of turning. Inthis modification the bed plate 76 supports a frame with the same legs77 as already described with the exception that the D shaped member 78has formed therewith an extenits gear's265 to 270 as described. Theshaft 264 has also fastened thereto the gear 285. The shaft 274 carriesthe gears 275 to 277 as described, and the-spindle 259 has fastened.

thereto the gear 260 as described. The frame with the ID shaped member 78 in this modification has journaled therein the shaft- 315 with thegears 316 and 317 fastened thereto. The gear 316 meshes with a gear 320fastened to the shaft 46. A shaft 325 is journaled in the said frame andhas fastened thereto the gear 326 which meshes with a gear 317. Y A gear327 is fastened to the upper end of the shaft 325 and meshes with theinternal gear 328 fastened to the outer annular wall of the leg 41 ofthe tank having the compartments 20 to 31. The tank in this modificationrevolves on the ring 72. The said ring is supported on legs 73 asalready described. The shaft 46 is encircled by the sleeve 335 to whichis fastened the bevel gear 336 similar to 284 and the gear 283 Withinthe sleeve 335 is located the stationary shaft 337 which is fastened toa fitting 338 secured to a ceiling or other support not shown. The shaft337 carries the journal bearing 286 for the spindle 288 having fastenedthereto the bevel pinion 290 and gear 289. The arm 291 carries therackshaft 295 which meshes with the gear 289 and carries the collar .300with the plate rack as described. In the axial center of the tank withthe compartments 20 to 31 is shown a double sleeve 341 which is fastenedto the frame having the D shaped member 7 8 by means of dowel pins 342.It has two openings 343, 344 similar to 59 and 60. An outer sleeve 345surrounds the sleeve 341 which has outlets for the conduits 63 thatconnect with the legs 41 as already described. The air inlet pipe 71 isconnected to the bottom 341 of the double sleeve 341. To operate thismodification the plates are placed on the plate racks in thecompartments 20 to 31 as already described. Rotation is transmittedfrom. the

worm shaft 103 to shaft 46 and 264 as de-" scribed. The shaft 264 turnsthe gear 285 which meshing with the gear 283 turns the sleeve 335.Thereby the bevel gear 336 turns the bevel pinion 290, and the latterturns the spindle 288 as before, by virtue of which the plate rack israised and lowered at the proper times, the arm 291. remainingstationary, .Nith the rotations of the shaft 46 the gear 320 turns thegear 316, and the latter through the gears 317, 326 and 327 rotates theinternal gear 328 carried on the tank having the compartments 20 to 31.The tank makes the same number of revolutions as the shaft 46, and whileit turns air is transmitted from the double sleeve 341 through theconduits 63 to the legs 41 as already described. 7

Having described my invention what I de sire to secure by Letters Patentand claim 1s:

1. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments for liquids, and means to force airthrough the liquids in said compartments consecutively one after theother.

2. The combination of a plate rack, means to swing said rack in onedirection, other means to swing said rack in a reverse direction andmeans to move the plate rack in a plane perpendicular to which itswings.

3. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments, means to force air through theliquid of one of said compartments during a predetermined interval oftime and means to begin forcing air through the liquid of a secondcompartment before the termination of forcing the air through the liquidof the first compartment.

4. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments, a movable plate rack for saidcompartments, means to raise or lower the plate rack into or out of anyof the compartments, means to move the said plate rack in one directionfrom one compartment to another and means to move the plate rack in anopposite direction.

5. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments for liquids, a movable plate rack forsaid compartments, means to raise or lower the plate rack into or out ofany of said compartments, said means being adjustable to vary the timeof immersion of said rack in said liquids and means to move the platerack when raised or being raised to a second compartment to be loweredinto the latter. 7 f

6. In an apparatus 'of the character described the. combination of atank having a plurality of compartments.'for solutions, a

plate rack, means toraise or lower the plate rack into or out of saidcompartments, said means being adjustable to vary intervals of time ofimmersion ofsaid rack in said solutions.

7. In an apparatus of the character de- 7 scribed the combination of atank having a pluralityof compartments, a main shaft for the tank, meansto turn the shaft, a gear on the main shaft, a second and a third shaftadjacent to the main shaft, a gear on the main shaft with teethintermittently located thereon, a gear on the second shaft meshing withthe said teeth on the main shaft to intermittently rotate the secondshaft, an arm on the second shaft, a plate rack slidably connected tosaid arm, a gear on the third shaft, teeth intermittently locked on themain gear meshing with teeth of the gear on the third shaft, a spindlecarried in the arm and means interposed between the third shaft andspindle to turn the latter, a fourth shaft, a gear on the fourth shaftmeshing with the gear on the third shaft, teeth intermittently locatedon the main gear meshing with the gear on the fourth shaft to reversethe rotations of said spindle,

8. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments, a main shaft for the tank, means toturn the main shaft, a gear on the main shaft, teeth intermittently anddetachabl fastened to the circumferential surface 0 the gear and teethintermittently and detachably fastened to the top face and to the bottomface of the gear, a second shaft adjacent to the main shaft, a gear onthe second shaft meshing with teeth on the said circumferential surface,an arm connected to the second shaft, a plate rack slidably supported onsaid arm, a third shaft, a gear on the latter shaft meshing with theteeth on one of the surfaces of the main gear, a spindle carried on thearm and connections between said spindle and the plate rack andconnections between the spindle and the gear on the third shaft, afourth shaft and a gear on the fourth shaft mesh- I ing with the teethon the other face of the the tank, means to turn the shaft, a gear onthe shaft havin a' groove in its top face and bottom face an having apair of grooves on its circumferential surface, teeth adjustablyfastened'in each of said grooves, a second shaft adjacent to the mainshaft, a gear on the second shaft meshing with the teeth in one of thecircumferential grooves, a spin dle journaled adjacent to the secondshaft, a gear on the spindle meshing with the teeth in the secondcircumferential groove and the teeth on the second shaft, an arm carriedon the second shaft, a plate rackslidably connected to said arm, a thirdshaft adjacent to the first shaft, a gear on the third shaft meshingwith the teeth in the groove of the top face of the first gear, a fourthshaft adjacent to the main shaft, a gear on the fourth shaft meshingwith the teeth in the groove of the other face of the main gear, asecond gear on the third shaft meshing with the gear on the fourthshaft, a

horizontal spindle on the arm, connections between the latter spindleand the third shaft and connections between the latter spindle and theplate rack.

10. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments, a driving shaft for the tank, meansto turn the shaft, a plurality of gears one over the other on the shaft,a main shaft journaled adjacent to the driving shaft, a plurality ofgears one over the other rotatably supported on the main shaft andrespectively on the same levels with the gears on the driving shaft, anintermediate gear adjustably supported adjacent to the driving shaft andmeansto mesh said intermediate gear with any gear on the driving shaftand its acompanying gear on the main shaft, a gear with teeth on itscircumferential surface and on its top and bottom faces connected toeach gear on the main shaft, a second shaft adjacent to the main shaft,gearing on the second shaft meshing with the teeth on the saidcircumferential. surface, an arm carried on the second shaft, plate rackslidably connected to said arm for said compartments, a third shaftadjacent.

to the main shaft, gears on the third shaft meshing with the teeth onone of the faces of the gears on the main shaft, a fourth shaft, gearson the fourth shaft meshing with teeth on the other faces of the gearson the main shaft, a spindle carried on the arm, gearing interposedbetween said spindle and the third shaft, and gearing interposed betweenthe spindle and theplate rack.

11. In an apparatus of the character dew scribed the combination of anannular tank, main compartments for the tank having perforations 1n thebottom walls thereof, a sec-i ondary compartment with a leg for eachmain compartment, a double sleeve having an outer wall and inner wallwith its axis coincident with the axis of the tank, a pair of openingssaid outer wall, an outerstationarysleeve surrounding the double sleeve,conduits connectingv openings in the outer sleeve with openings inthe'legs of the sec ondary compartments, the openings in the outersleeve enabled to register with the openings in the double sleeve, arotary shaft connected with the double sleeve, an arm fas- 'tened to theshaft, a plate rack slidably connected to the arm, a spindle carried onthe arm, meansto rotate the spindle in two directions, connectionsbetween the spindle and late rack, and means to conduct air to the oublesleeve.

12. In a tank having a plurality of compartments for liquids to treat aplate, means to force air through the liquid in any compartment for. apredetermined length of time.

13. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments, a movable plate rack for saidcompartments, adjustable means to raise said plate rack relatively toany of said compartments, adjustable means to swing said plate rack fromover one of said compartments to over another and adjustable means tolower said plate-rack into the latter compartment. I

14:. The combination of a plate rack, means to swing said rack in onedirection for a predetermined distance, and other means to swing saidrack in a reverse direction for a predetermined distance.

15. The combination of a plate rack, means to swing said rackinonedirection for a predetermined distance, other means to swing said rackin a reverse direction for a predetermined distance and means to raiseand lower the plate rack, the latter means being adjustable to maintainthe rack at its upper or lower level a predetermined interval of time.

16. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments for liquids, a plate rack for theapparatus and means to remove the plate rack from any compartment andlower it into any other of said compartments.

17. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankhaving a plurality of compartments for solutions, a plate rack for theapparatus, means to move the plate rack from one compartment to anotherand means to maintain said plate rack in the solution of any of saidcompartmeets f r a predetermined length of time 18. In an apparatus ofthe character deto raise and lowerthe plate rack into or out scribed thecombination of a tank having a' of any of said compartments, and meansto plurality of compartments for fluids, means move said plate rack intoand out of any to force air through the fluid of one of said combinationof said compartments. 15

5 compartments, and means to force air Signed in the borough ofManhattan in through the fluids of one of the other com the county ofNew York and State of New partments not adjacent to first. York this 9thday of Januar A. D. 1914.

' In an apparatus of the character de- AUGUST HANSCH. scribed thecombination of a tank having a Witnesses: 10 plurality of compartmentsfor fluids, a mov- A. Am; BQNNEVILLE,

able plate rack for said compartments, means J OHN JESBICH.

